Iran Flags “Major Progress” in Switzerland Talks: Trump Threatens “You Won’t Even Make It Back to Your Country” as Hormuz Reopens Again

Key Takeaways

• “Major progress” declared: Iranian FM Araghchi cited Pakistan and Qatar’s tireless mediation in delivering significant advances toward ending the Lebanon war.
• Key concessions confirmed: Oil and petrochemical export waivers granted; U.S. naval blockade lifted; reconstruction plan for Iran launched.
• Pakistan and Qatar joint statement: Both mediators confirmed “encouraging progress” from the first round of high-level U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland.
• High-level committee established: The U.S. and Iran agreed to create an oversight body to manage 60-day negotiations through technical talks.
• De-confliction cell created: A dedicated mechanism will ensure the Lebanon ceasefire is upheld.
• Talks briefly halted: The Iranian delegation temporarily stopped talks after Trump threatened more strikes over Hezbollah and Lebanon.
• Trump’s Hezbollah ultimatum: “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, only harder!!!”
• Trump’s nuclear threat to negotiators: The president warned Iran against closing Hormuz, telling its team: “You close it and you won’t have a country. You won’t even make it back to your f country.”
• Vance strikes contrasting tone: The VP, leading the U.S. delegation, offered far more optimistic comments than his boss.
• 14-point MOU framework in place: Signed last week, it charts a path to a comprehensive peace deal.
• Hormuz closed again over weekend: Tehran shut the strait after Israel continued attacks on Lebanon and Hezbollah despite agreeing to a ceasefire Friday.
• Israel’s Lebanon offensive the key sticking point: Iran insists Israel must adhere to the ceasefire before further peace talks can proceed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flagged “major progress” in peace talks with the United States held in Switzerland, while Pakistani and Qatari mediators said negotiations were set to continue.

“Tireless Pakistan and Qatari mediation has delivered major progress to end the Lebanon war,” Araghchi said in a social media statement. He noted that oil and petrochemical exports had been waived, the U.S. naval blockade against Iran had been lifted, and that a major reconstruction and development plan for Iran had been launched.

Separately, Pakistan and Qatar said in a joint statement that the first round of high-level U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland had concluded, and that “encouraging progress” was made.

High-Level Committee and De-Confliction Cell Established

Mediators said the United States and Iran had agreed to the establishment of a high-level committee that will oversee their negotiations, aiming to reach a deal within 60 days through more technical talks.

The two sides also agreed on the creation of a “de-confliction cell” to ensure that a ceasefire involving Lebanon will be upheld.

Trump’s Explosive Warnings Threaten to Derail Diplomacy

Upbeat comments on the Switzerland talks came following reports that the Iranian delegation had halted talks after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened more attacks against Iran over Hezbollah and Lebanon.

Trump called on Tehran to rein in Hezbollah, amid a bitter clash with Israel in southern Lebanon.

“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump said in a social media post.

Speaking to Fox News later on Sunday, Trump warned Iran against closing Hormuz and directly threatened Iran’s negotiating team, stating: “You close it and you won’t have a country. You won’t even make it back to your f country.”

The president’s comments were in stark contrast to the more optimistic tone struck by Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation to Switzerland.

Lebanon the Central Sticking Point

The United States and Iran agreed to a 14-point memorandum of understanding last week to end hostilities and chart out a path toward a more comprehensive peace deal. The U.S. had lifted its naval blockade, while Iran was seen allowing some ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

But Israel’s offensive against Lebanon remains a key point of contention, with Iran calling for Israel to adhere to the ceasefire before any more peace talks can proceed.

Tehran had closed Hormuz over the weekend after Israel kept up its attacks on Lebanon and Hezbollah despite agreeing to a ceasefire on Friday.